Sen. Menendez Rallies to Defend TPS and Expand Protections to Venezuelans

NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 29 -- The office of Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today joined Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries, their families, and community and faith leaders for a rally in front of the Federal Building in Newark to present evidence of the socioeconomic contributions by TPS recipients across the country and to pressure the Trump Administration to renew TPS and not to end TPS as part of its anti-immigrant agenda.

"It was an honor to join dozens of courageous New Jerseyans today in standing up to defend a program that heightens America's moral standing in the world and embodies our nation's principles of diversity, compassion, and generosity," said Sen. Bob Menendez. "TPS has been a long-standing and successful program that has offered humane protection to foreign nationals living in the U.S. when they are unable to return to their home countries due to natural disasters, armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions. As the Trump administration considers not renewing TPS, they must understand we will not stand idly by as they insist on assaulting American values by kicking out as many immigrants as possible in the name of nativism."

Earlier today, Senator Menendez also joined a group of Congressional colleagues from both Houses in a letter sent to the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security requesting that TPS not only be protected, but expanded to all eligible Venezuelans currently in the United States given the deteriorating situation in their home country at the hands of Dictator Nicolas Maduro. A copy of the full letter can be found here.

"Congress created TPS in 1990 in order to provide safe haven to individuals in the U.S. whose home countries are suffering from armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions which prevent them from returning home safely, when doing so is not contrary to the national interest. The situation in Venezuela is dire and clearly meets this standard," stated the letter. "Granting TPS in these circumstances is also in line with our national interest. Venezuelans in the U.S. have not just become a vibrant part of our communities, but have also made important contributions including as lawyers, doctors, and small-business owners."

The Temporary Protected Status program, established by the U.S. Congress through the Immigration Act of 1990, is a temporary, renewable program that provides relief from deportation and access to a work permit for certain foreign nationals who are unable to safely return to their home country. TPS status has been granted to nearly 400,000 people from 10 countries including, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Haiti, many of whom have since made homes in New Jersey.